Sir Ector asked Sir Kay, “Try and pull the sword out of the stone.”

Sir Kay obliged and tried with all his might to pull it out but was unsuccessful. The sword stayed firmly in place.

Then turning towards Arthur, Sir Ector said, “Arthur, now you try and pull the sword out.”

Arthur agreed and pulled the sword out with ease. Sir Ector and Sir Kay knelt to the ground in front of Arthur. The young boy asked, “Why are my brother and father kneeling before me?”

Sir Ector then told Arthur the truth of his lineage. “Sir Kay and I are not really your brother and father. I am your foster father and Kay, your foster brother.” Sir Ector once thought that Arthur was not of higher blood but today he believed the young boy is from a higher class. Sir Ector also informed Arthur, “Merlin had delivered you, to me for proper care and nourishment.”

     Sir Ector asked Arthur if he would be his lord once he is king. Arthur replied that he will do anything for Sir Ector and his wife because they took him in and raised him as their own. If they wanted anything from him, Arthur will fulfill their request. Sir Ector asked one more request from Arthur, he wanted Arthur to make Sir Kay a chief steward in his land. Arthur agreed and said that no one else can acquire that spot as long as either one of them is alive.

                On the Twelfth-day, all the barons came together to pull the sword out once more, but none were successful. They said it was a shame that they were over governed by a boy. So, everyone decided to try to pull the sword out once more on Candlemas. Until then they set up ten knights to watch the sword. Five at a time were constantly watching the stone and the sword.

                On Candlemas, the lords tried again but failed once more. Arthur pulled the sword out once again, proving everyone wrong. By this time, the barons were angry, so they put it off until Easter. Arthur once again proved everyone wrong on Easter, but the lords were not ready to accept him yet, so they scheduled a time during the Pentecost to try once again.

                The Archbishop of Canterbury supplied the best knights from Uther Pendragon’s days and many more to guard Arthur until the feast of Pentecost, by the orders of Merlin.

Written by Saloni Mishra, Class of '10